Warning : The content of this fiction includes extreme violence, foul language, sexual situations, and non consensual situations.

Disclaimer : All characters here in are property of Toei animation and Akira Toriyama, save the characters Vavage, Phobe, Coma, Jaxom.

Notes : This is an AU fan fiction, beginning at the Buu Saga.

Shadows Within

Part 11

by Reppa

"That's why you're…I don't understand…" Gohan frowned, backing up nervously. He didn't like the almost predatory leer in Jaxom's eyes all of a sudden. And he especially didn't like his advancement towards him with that low, deep chuckle. Slowly it dawned on him that Jaxom was more foe than friend, "You work Vavage, don't you?"

"Bingo, honey pie's got it right on the dot." The black haired musician laughed, tossing the Dragonball up and down in his hand, "Do you know which one this is? This is Wind. Green like the leaves that sweep the sky during a cool summer breeze."

The half Saiyjin managed a wry smile, "Wow, an artistic enemy, never met one like that."

"Doesn't it feel good though? Having someone to fight who has a touch of class." Jaxom stopped throwing the ball into the air to sniff lightly, his lips curving into a somewhat pleased smirk as he halted his steps. "And I figured you were special, don't smell Saiyjin around much. 'Specially after, ah, what was it? The planet was destroyed or something or other."

Now it was time for him to ogle. What had that meant? And how could he tell he had Saiyjin blood in him just by sniffing. Gohan's dark eyes slowly scanned down the other's taut figure before something lithe and wiry came into view, swaying lazily. It was a long, furry brown tail. His jaw nearly dropped open but he fought the urge, "Y-You're a Saiyjin?? How…"

"Full blooded. Born from a pregnant Saiyjin woman who had vacated the planet a few months 'fore it's destruction. Died having me on an alien planet. Now, since we're familiarized, I'm afraid I have to be doing you in now, though I'd prefer just doing you." It definitely did seem as though their 'friendly' banter was finished as the full blooded Saiyjin lunged forward, catching him off guard with a swift elbow to his chin. Gohan yelped in more surprise than pain as he was sent through the stone wall, sliding to a halt in the grass.

A million things were racing through his head now, and it was hard shoving them back to focus in on the fight at hand. Why hadn't he sensed his ki? Why hadn't he smelt the difference between him and the humans? Albeit Gohan's sense of smell was weaker than a full blood's, it was potent enough to notice a difference in species. Propping himself on his elbows, he watched Jaxom step casually through the opening, cracking his knuckles, "Got you off guard, huh? S'no fun if you're not ready."

Shakily, the teen got back up on his feet, giving his head a shake to clear his senses in time to barely block a punch aimed at his stomach. Jaxom was fast as well as strong, faster and stronger than he would have liked or thought him to be. It was hard for him to keep up and avoid damage. He gasped as Jaxom dropped down, swiping his leg over and knocking him off his feet. Gohan had to quickly avoid the heel of the full blooded Saiyjin's army boot crushing his face.

He rolled over before he got to his feet and shot into the air, very sure that the other could fly just as well. And indeed he could, though he followed at a more lazy pace, "Well, are we going to place cat and mouse? That would be a load of fun. Here, I'll be the cat and you can be the mouse, that way I'll get to make you squeak."

Gohan really didn't want to know to the fullest what he had planned as he flew away at top speed, the Saiyjin close on his heels. This had to be the most vigorous chase he'd ever had the displeasure to be in. The half breed tried dipping down, swerving left and right, pulling loops, and weaving through trees and other obstacles in the park and a great deal of Tokyo. But no matter what he did, Jaxom followed strong.

:Damn it…! He doesn't give up…!: This was grating on his nerves now. Suddenly, a sharp pain filled his shoulder before his body went numb and stiff, causing him to slow considerably before he hit the ground hard. Something was lodged in his back, upon removing it with great effort, he saw it was a black crossbow bolt. :What…:

Approaching footsteps redirected his attention to Jaxom. He was now wearing a large plate of armor over his shoulder that ran down his arm, as green as the Dragonball embedded in the shoulder, ending in a thick glove. In hand he held a large green crossbow, a Chinese dragon mouth brandishing another readied black bolt. Along with this, instead of his thick armor boots, he had on green armored foot and leg plates tapering to his thighs. The Saiyjin smirked down at him, "How did you like the paralyzer? Pretty handy in a case like you."

The teen ground his teeth as he glared at him, trying desperately to move but he felt too sluggish and heavyset all of a sudden, "Where did that armor come from…and why are you helping Vavage of all things?! He's intent to do nothing but evil and someone like him, if he promised you anything…he'll never stay to his word…!"

"You do have a point, and don't think I never thought of it. But if you can give me a good reason this world and the rest of it all shouldn't go down the drain, I'd like to hear it."

"Because there are a lot of good things about it…that's why!" Gohan tried to move again, coming up short on options.

Jaxom chuckled softly, holding the crossbow aside slightly. "You're just a kid, not out there yet. There's evil all around as it is, why not just let it take over like it wants and get the whole ordeal over with? Good fights evil, evil loses, then more evil comes for good to beat until somewhere along the line, good's gonna lose completely. And with a character like Vavage, I think it's come to that line. Who am I to go against the flow?"

"Well it wouldn't be at that line if people weren't helping him…! And maybe if you went against that so called flow, you could really call yourself the real warrior you want to be called..!" Gohan suddenly gasped, turning his head quickly as the large crossbow was swiftly brandished again, aimed an inch from his temple. Obviously he hit a nerve. He really expected Jaxom to open fire on him for that, though as he tensely waited no blow came, no crack and release of the bolt.

Somewhat timidly, the half breed teen slowly reopened his eyes to slowly look up at him, seeing the calm, expressionless look on the full blooded Saiyjin's face. It seemed like he was in deep thought or something of the sort. His finger was poised on the trigger and just one move and it'd really be over for Gohan, shot between the eyes by a crossbow.

But gradually, the weapon lowered itself and Gohan could have just cried in relief. When he looked again, the taller man looked somewhat thoughtful. So his words had sunk in a bit thankfully, he just hoped Jaxom didn't disappoint him. "So you say, if I were to help you guys out, this guy would be toast?"

"I wasn't saying that, but I was saying that you're helping him isn't going to get you anything but a good death when he's done with you…" Shifting, the numb weight come over him had yet to waver as Gohan continued trying to move. "It'd be better if you joined us and helped us stop him."

Jaxom frowned to himself, looking up as he gave it some debate. Then he smirked, looking down at him, "Well, either way I'd be a dead man, and all I really want above anything else is a good fight…All right. You convinced me. Be glad you're too cute to kill."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I think you'd best repeat that, I'm pretty sure I got it wrong the first time."

Vavage had himself reclined in the throne, the centerpiece in Hell's citadel. With Dibora permanently disposed, and his being the most powerful of the demons, he easily took over all. In hand he had a large goblet, it's cup the size of a medium bowl and filled to the brim with blood, the black Dragonball resting in the liquid.

"The Water Dragonball was taken and we haven't heard from Windjammer…" The small gargoyle simpered out, seated on the armrest until he was slapped off with a scowl.

Lazily, he dipped his hand into the juices to pull it out, holding it up in admiration as it dripped dry. It was really no true skin off his back as long as he kept a hold on his own Dragonball and it's little resident inside. He smirked, twirling it about his fingers, "Well, then our other guardians had better do their jobs right, now won't they? Or I'll hunt every last one of them down and tear them limb from limb. Send someone to take care of our stray arrow."

He brought the orb close, licking it with an even more sadistic grin on his face as he pretended he was licking the orb's occupant. Of course, he could always pull Vegeta out and play, but he'd rather not risk the slim chance of the Saiyjin prince getting away or Kakarrot and his group sensing him out in any way. So for the time being, the demon would wait just a little longer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The entirety of their trip back towards the Lookout, Raditz had not once stopped giving Jaxom a suspicious driven glare. The two had come back to the concert stage to find the older Saiyjin waiting expectantly for his nephew. And his reaction to what Gohan had told him of the entire ordeal was not exactly good.

But since their odd bit of a talk, Jaxom was no longer threatening in any sense and after a while, he showed he was a fairly amiable companion. Gohan just hoped the guy wasn't starting to grow on him as much as it seemed he was, his mother would pitch a fit at the idea of her baby boy taking an interest in another man. But it was hard when the man was pretty charming in a number of ways.

Then he started to wonder how his father and the others were doing in their own searches. He hoped all was well as he looked towards their new ally, somewhat curious on a few things. "What other kinds of guardians are there watching the rest of the Dragonballs? And what powers are in them exactly?"

"Huh?" The musician blinked at him comically, somewhat lost before he gave the question any real thought. For a minute or two, he stroked his chin as he tried to remember what could have possibly been told to him, "Well…I'm not sure, they have some thing guarding the Earth Dragonball, some fat thing. Then there's some demon watching the Fire Dragonball. Dunno where the last is. As far as powers go, I know what mine does, don't ask me to explain the others. It's kind of strange to try."

"Seems like no one knows where that last one is…I don't understand what could have happened there. Must be something to it…" Raditz pointed out lazily as they arrived at the Kami tower Lookout, stepping down onto the white tiled floor. As he and his nephew suspected, the others were yet to return, the whole while Jaxom took his time taking in the new area. The Guardian of the Earth and Popo were probably inside somewhere. "So, we're the first ones back. Should we go help them now or are we going to wait?"

The half blooded teen looked between him and Jaxom, frowning as he scratched the back of his hair, "I think we need to go help the others incase they come across something they won't be able to handle. I'm sure my dad and Piccolo will be all right, so let's go help my little brother and Trunks."

His uncle shrugged, smirking slightly, "All right then. Never send children to do a real warrior's job after all."

"Now that's not the point…"

"Well it's hard to believe that's not the point. They're kids, stinkers, they have a short attention span. Do you really think they'll stick to looking for a little ball…??"

All these new names and the slight mix of banter and bickering between them just got a blank stare at Jaxom, but he started to frown, his apple green eyes narrowing and now staring past the both of them. His stare continued on a while along with his tensed form before they actually noticed and Raditz raised a brow, "What in the pits of Hell is wrong?"

"A little unwanted company is all."

End of chapter 11